Fraser Health has awarded a $250,000 annual contract to Communitas Supportive Care Society to operate a full-time rehabilitation and recovery-focused clubhouse program in Mission.
The new contract, awarded following a competitive RFP process earlier this year, replaces the current part-time program and includes an additional $50,000 in funding for the expanded service. The clubhouse will give Mission-area residents access to peer-driven psychosocial rehabilitation mental health services. A location has not been finalized, said FHA spokesman Roy Thorpe-Dorward.
This program offers adults with serious and persistent mental illnesses a place to go where they access a range of support and rehabilitation services.
Some of these include life skills development, educational programs (such as food safe or first aid training) and working in and around the clubhouse, cooking, cleaning, generating a newsletter and choosing outings, said Anthony Neptune, FHA’s manager of rehabilitation and recovery services, in an interview with The Record in December 2010.
There are currently 11 clubhouses operating across Fraser Health; however, until now Mission has been served by two programs: the Mission Clubhouse Society’s part-time, drop-in program and Mission Community Services Society’s Anything is Possible.
Neither of those were able to offer a full range of supports, said Neptune. A total of 90 people use the existing programs.
Fraser Health issued an RFP for an expanded Clubhouse Program for Mission earlier this year.
The annual contract was awarded to Communitas Supportive Care Society in early February and the new clubhouse program will begin May 2, 2011. Existing programs will remain in place until the new clubhouse begins operation, which will reduce the impact of the changes upon clients.
“We believe that individuals can recover from mental illness,” said Lois Dixon, executive director, Fraser Health mental health and addictions services.
The society has a history and a strong reputation of providing client-centered mental health services in Fraser Health, including providing mental health housing, rehabilitation and peer directed services.
As well as the new Clubhouse Program, local residents will continue to have access to other core rehabilitation and recovery programs available in the community, including peer support programs, family support and respite, advocacy services, occupational therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation services, which are available through Mission Mental Health.